1940 in comics

Events and publications

January

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #34 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #20 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #46 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #10 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #17 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #35 - DC Comics
* "Double Action Comics (1939 series) #2" - National Periodical Publications
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #28 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #1 - National Periodical Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #51 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #6 - Quality Comics

February

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #35 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #21 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #47 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #11 - DC Comics
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #36 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #29 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #2 - National Periodical Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #52 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #7 - Quality Comics

March

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #36 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #22 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #48 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #12 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #18 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #37 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #30 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #3 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #1 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #53 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #8 - Quality Comics
* "Superman" (1939 series) #4 cover dated Spring - National Periodical Publications

April

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #37 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #23 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #49 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #13 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #19 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #38 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #31 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #4 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #2 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #54 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #9 - Quality Comics

May

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #38 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #24 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #50 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #14 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #20 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #39 - DC Comics
* "Doc Savage Comics" (1940 series) #1 - Street & Smith Publications
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #32 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #5 - National Periodical Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #55 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #10 - Quality Comics

June

* June 2: first publication of Will Eisner's "The Spirit Section", featuring debuts of the series "The Spirit", "Lady Luck" and "Mr. Mystic".cite web| last =Markstein| first=Don|title =Lady Luck | url =http://www.toonopedia.com/ladyluck.htm]
* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #39 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #25 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #51 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #15 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #21 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #40 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #33 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #3 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #56 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #11 - Quality Comics
* "Superman" (1939 series) #5 cover dated Summer - National Periodical Publications

July

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #40 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #26 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #52 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #16 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #22 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #41 - DC Comics
* "Doc Savage Comics" (1940 series) #2 - Street & Smith Publications
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #34 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #4 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #57 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #12 - Quality Comics

August

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #41 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #27 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #53 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #17 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #23 - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #42 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #35 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #8 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #5 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #58 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #13 - Quality Comics

eptember

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #42 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #28 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #54 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #18 - DC Comics
* "Amazing Mystery Funnies" (1938 series) #24, last issue - Centaur Publications
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #43 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #36 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #9 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #6 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #59 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #14 - Quality Comics
* "Superman" (1939 series) #6 - National Periodical Publications

October

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #43 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #29 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #55 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #19 - DC Comics
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #44 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #37 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #10 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #7 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #60 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #15 - Quality Comics

November

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #44 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #30 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #56 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #20 - DC Comics
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #45 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #38 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #11 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #8 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #61 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #16 - Quality Comics
* "Superman" (1939 series) #7 - National Periodical Publications

December

* "Ace Comics" (1937 series) #45 - David McKay Publications
* "Action Comics" (1938 series) #31 - DC Comics
* "Adventure Comics" (1938 series) #57 - DC Comics
* "All-American Comics" (1939 series) #21 - DC Comics
* "Detective Comics" (1937 series) #46 - DC Comics
* "Feature Comics" (1939 series) #39 - Quality Comics
* "Flash Comics" (1940 series) #12 - National Periodical Publications
* "Master Comics" (1940 series) #9 - Fawcett Publications
* "More Fun Comics" (1936 series) #62 - National Periodical Publications
* "Smash Comics" (1939 series) #17 - Quality Comics

pecials

* "All Star Comics" (1940 series) #1 cover dated Summer - DC Comics
* "All Star Comics" (1940 series) #2 cover dated Fall - DC Comics
* "All Star Comics" (1940 series) #3 cover dated Winter - DC Comics
* "Batman" (1940 series) #1 cover dated Spring - DC Comics
* "Batman" (1940 series) #2 cover dated Summer - DC Comics
* "Batman" (1940 series) #3 cover dated Fall - DC Comics
* "Mutt & Jeff (1939 series) #2" - All-American Comics
* "New York World's Fair Comics (1939 series) #2" - National Periodical Publications

First issues by title

*"Batman" cover dated Spring, published by DC Comics.
*"All Star Comics" cover dated Summer, published by DC Comics.
*"Doc Savage Comics" published by Street & Smith Publications.
*"Flash Comics" cover dated January, published by National Periodical Publications.
*"Master Comics" cover dated March, published by Fawcett Publications.

Initial appearances by character name

*Catwoman in "Batman" #1 (Summer), created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
*The Flash (Jay Garrick) in "Flash Comics" #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, published by National Periodical Publications.
*Hawkman (Carter Hall) in "Flash Comics" #1 (January), created by Gardner Fox and Dennis Neville, published by National Periodical Publications.
*The Joker in "Batman" #1 (Summer), created by Jerry Robinson (concept), Bill Finger, and Bob Kane, published by DC Comics.
*Justice Society of America in "All Star Comics" #3 (Winter), created by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox, published by DC Comics.

References